Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

2 injured as boat capsizes in the sea

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE, APRIL 2. The Cuddalore Collector, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, had a narrow escape when one of the boats accompanying him in the high seas off the Thevanampattinam coast here capsized today.

Two members of a troupe sustained injuries and one of them who swallowed seawater and sand was rushed to hospital. Two cellphones, three golden bracelets, a wristwatch and a trumpet were lost. Thanks to the swift action of fishermen, all of them were rescued.

In all, four fibre-reinforced boats with outboard engines ventured into the sea to enthuse fishermen. The Collector, actor Vivek Oberoi and Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, were in one of the boats.

The sea was unusually rough and yet officials and dignitaries ventured into the sea without heeding the warning of elders in the village.

When they were about one km into the sea, a boat carrying the troupe swerved to the right.

The boat in which the Collector was seated had to slow down to avoid the rushing boat.

As the boat (with the band members) was overloaded and on the crest of the waves, it tilted and disappeared into water for sometime.

However, fishermen who had gathered in strength on the coast pulled all of them to safety.

Speaking to this correspondent in a quivering voice, Babu (27) said they were members of `Kalaimaran troupe from Pondicherry.' When the boat tilted he suffered a back injury.

He fell close to the speeding rotors of the boat engine, but had a providential escape. However, his team-mate, Rajkumar, became sick and was rushed to hospital.

The fishermen heaved a sigh of relief when the Collector reached the shores. One of the residents, Shenbagham, said the boat capsized due to overloading.

Even when the boats started, the rear portion was in knee-deep water. The village elders said the officials and dignitaries ventured into the sea without any lifejackets or life buoys.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

AIDWA members stage hunger strike
2 injured as boat capsizes in the sea

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu